Tangerine Falls (West Fork Cold Springs Falls)

Los Padres National Forest / Santa Barbara, California, USA

About Tangerine Falls (West Fork Cold Springs Falls)

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Locally known as Tangerine Falls (but also known as West Fork Cold Springs Falls), this “Santa Barbara locals only” waterfall required quite a bit of an adventure for us to reach.

The hike was not really that well signposted (at least for the waterfall) and we had to be willing to do some pretty rough scrambling, especially towards the end of the hike where the scrambling was nearly vertical.

Tangerine_Falls_065_02142009 - Tangerine Falls with a hanglider in the sky
Tangerine Falls with a hanglider in the sky

The falls itself was reported to have a main drop of somewhere around 100ft with plenty of disjoint smaller cascades to bring its cumulative drop to a figure that might be more like 150ft or more.

It also featured a commanding ocean view in the direction of Santa Barbara.

Indeed, when you take all these things together, I’d have to say this was one of the more memorable hikes that Julie and I have done together.

Timing Tangerine Falls

Tangerine Falls seemed to have a rather short-lived flow depending on how much rain had preceded a visit.

Tangerine_Falls_17_056_04022017 - Context of the Tangerine Falls and a lower drop as seen from a lower lookout spot in April 2017
Context of the Tangerine Falls and a lower drop as seen from a lower lookout spot in April 2017

In our case, our first visit to the Tangerine Falls was timed for February in 2009.

Meanwhile, my second visit occured in April 2017, which was about 1.5 months after the last of the saturation rains that had put a dent in the multi-year drought that had hit much of Southern California that year.

In both instances, I’d say the flow was such that if you go another month or two without rain, then the falls would slow to a trickle or go dry altogether.

Speaking of the hike, given how non-trivial it was towards the end (which we’ll get to shortly), you might want to rethink doing this hike/scramble if it had been raining or threatening to rain.

Tangerine_Falls_17_080_04022017 - Tangerine Falls involved some very steep and rough scrambling at the end, which may make for very dangerous conditions if it has been wet
Tangerine Falls involved some very steep and rough scrambling at the end, which may make for very dangerous conditions if it has been wet

That’s because there were plenty of difficult spots requiring clinging to and climbing onto rocks that can easily be slippery when wet.

Some of the gullies we had to traverse or ascend could easily be muddy or flooded.

And let’s not forget trying to minimize skin contact with the ubiquitous poison oak, which could be an issue near the creeks where they tended to be more abundant.

Hiking to Tangerine Falls

Ann Marie Brown said this the hike to Tangerine Falls was 2 miles round trip.

Tangerine_Falls_019_02142009 - Julie negotiating some of the narrow and slippery parts of the hike and scramble up to the Tangerine Falls
Julie negotiating some of the narrow and slippery parts of the hike and scramble up to the Tangerine Falls

However, Julie and I swore it seemed quite a bit longer than that (more like 3 miles or so).

After all, we spent about 2.5 hours doing this excursion (though this included the picture-taking).

I took a similar amount of time on my second visit when I solo’ed this hike.

Thus, in spite of the reported trail length, given all the obstacles encountered, such statistics can be deceiving.

Tangerine_Falls_17_063_04022017 - Looking out from the foot of Tangerine Falls towards the Pacific Ocean downstream from West Fork Cold Springs Canyon
Looking out from the foot of Tangerine Falls towards the Pacific Ocean downstream from West Fork Cold Springs Canyon

So given all these factors, I decided to bump up the difficulty rating of this waterfalling excursion given the hazards present and the exertion required.

I certainly would not recommend bringing children on the hike unless they’re pretty experienced hikers or have no fear of heights.

The Tangerine Falls Trail Description – from trail to scramble

From the East Mountain Road at the trailhead (see directions below), we had to make sure that we took the correct trail.

After all, there were two trailheads as well as an additional one on the other side of the concrete ford.

Tangerine_Falls_090_02142009 - Looking back at the trailhead leading us up to Tangerine Falls, which rose quickly from the East Mountain Road and also had some trash cans set up by trail signage
Looking back at the trailhead leading us up to Tangerine Falls, which rose quickly from the East Mountain Road and also had some trash cans set up by trail signage

We made sure to take the trail for West Fork Cold Springs, which was the one to the left of the East Fork Cold Springs Trail.

That latter trail was the one that ascended steeply and veered to the right away from Cold Springs Creek.

The correct trail had a couple of trash cans near its trailhead, which helped us discern it from the rest.

Within a few minutes into the hike, there were some false trails leading to crossings of Cold Springs Creek.

Tangerine_Falls_17_012_04022017 - Context of the West Fork Cold Springs junction, which deviated from the main trail and crossed the creek between this sign and bench
Context of the West Fork Cold Springs junction, which deviated from the main trail and crossed the creek between this sign and bench

It turned out that the correct trail junction and creek crossing for the West Fork Cold Springs Trail was another quarter-mile further on.

At this junction, there were obvious signposts for West Fork Cold Springs Trail as well as a bench or two.

Beyond the creek crossing, the trail then resumed on the West Fork Cold Springs Trail going uphill.

The trail pretty much followed water pipes, which we guessed were likely for water diversion.

Tangerine_Falls_010_02142009 - Shortly after crossing the creek, the Tangerine Falls hike followed along some water pipes as it climbed high above the canyon containing West Fork Cold Springs Creek
Shortly after crossing the creek, the Tangerine Falls hike followed along some water pipes as it climbed high above the canyon containing West Fork Cold Springs Creek

Anyways, these water pipes wound up being kind of trail markers for us, especially in places where there were trail junctions and we weren’t quite sure which way to go.

So we suspected that it was tapping off the same stream that was responsible for Tangerine Falls (i.e. West Fork Cold Springs).

Speaking of which, during this uphill stretch of trail following water pipes, we managed to spot Tangerine Falls high up on the mountains ahead of us.

That kind of gave us some sense that we were at least going the right way and that it was within reach.

Tangerine_Falls_17_027_04022017 - On my most recent visit to Tangerine Falls in 2017, I noticed this pole at a trail junction where I went right to descend towards a dry creek with embankment obstacle. This pole wasn't there on our first visit back in 2009
On my most recent visit to Tangerine Falls in 2017, I noticed this pole at a trail junction where I went right to descend towards a dry creek with embankment obstacle. This pole wasn’t there on our first visit back in 2009

Somewhere near the middle of the hike, we encountered an unsigned fork with the path on the right descending to a dry creek bed.

We took that right fork and then we had to go either go through or around an eroded embankment.

Beyond this obstacle (which might not be there by the time you do this hike), we regained the trail while it continued to follow more water pipes.

The Tangerine Falls Trail Description – scrambling alongside West Fork Cold Springs Creek

At roughly a half-mile beyond the creek crossing and embankment obstacle, we then encountered a trail junction with a wooden pole in between the two forking trails.

Tangerine_Falls_020_02142009 - Julie scrambling as the Tangerine Falls trail disappeared into a scramble
Julie scrambling as the Tangerine Falls trail disappeared into a scramble

I kept right to descend right down to a dry creek, where the trail then continued to follow the West Fork Cold Springs Creek.

There continued to be water pipes on the trail, and I used it to lead me further upstream alongside West Fork Cold Springs Creek.

In one junction, the trail deviated from the water pipes and climbed sharply up a series of switchbacks.

I learned the hard way that to stay on the correct trail, I had to stay with the water pipes alongside the creek.

Tangerine_Falls_17_039_04022017 - During the stream scramble along West Fork Cold Springs Creek, I had to cross the creek a few times while encountering water pipes on the way up to Tangerine Falls
During the stream scramble along West Fork Cold Springs Creek, I had to cross the creek a few times while encountering water pipes on the way up to Tangerine Falls

The other trail climbed steeply well above the West Fork Cold Springs Creek and veered towards a different canyon.

It wouldn’t take long before the trail then crossed West Fork Cold Springs Creek right before an attractive cascade.

Continuing to follow the water pipes, I then encountered a steep, root-exposed climb that was non-technical, but it required the use of my hands.

Indeed, I needed to be careful and choose my route wisely given its steepness.

Tangerine_Falls_031_02142009 - Julie ascending a particularly slippery rock wall as the scramble up to Tangerine Falls became increasingly steeper and rougher
Julie ascending a particularly slippery rock wall as the scramble up to Tangerine Falls became increasingly steeper and rougher

After the last (third I believe) stream crossing, the water pipes started to disappear and eventually the trail seemed to have disappeared on us as we were faced with a rock ledge.

With Tangerine Falls visible through the foliage above us, we knew that the only way to finish the hike was to press forward and scramble onto the rock ledge.

After rounding a bend, the ledge dropped off towards the creek, where I then tip-toed alongside the creek before reaching a gully and rock wall that I had to climb to get past.

Indeed, this scramble marked the beginning of the real serious part of our “adventure”.

The Tangerine Falls Trail Description – scrambling up to the base of the waterfall

Tangerine_Falls_035_02142009 - Looking down at Julie making the steep scramble to get closer to the base of Tangerine Falls
Looking down at Julie making the steep scramble to get closer to the base of Tangerine Falls

As we continued onwards, we had to climb higher and steeper as the trail pretty much degenerated into a straight up rock scramble.

Along the way, there were more intermediate tiers of Tangerine Falls.

However, we probably spent more time concentrating on the climb before us given the exposure to dropoff hazards that were present.

When we climbed high enough on the scramble, it turned out that there were a couple of spots to view Tangerine Falls.

Tangerine_Falls_057_02142009 - Broad contextual view of Tangerine Falls from the first 'lookout spot' part way up the scramble to the base of the waterfall's main drop
Broad contextual view of Tangerine Falls from the first ‘lookout spot’ part way up the scramble to the base of the waterfall’s main drop

The first spot we stopped at was below the main waterfall itself near some lower cascades.

We had to deviate from the “trail” and descend a steep eroded gully to get down to the creek level just in front of an intermediate cascade immediately below the main Tangerine Falls.

From down here, we were able to look up just past a tree (threatening to obstruct the view) at the falls.

On our first visit here, we managed to look up at the falls against the deep blue morning sky while hangliders were hovering right above the falls!

Tangerine_Falls_17_074_04022017 - Looking up at the very steep boulder scramble to get even higher towards the foot of the main drop of Tangerine Falls
Looking up at the very steep boulder scramble to get even higher towards the foot of the main drop of Tangerine Falls

On my second visit here, I showed up a few hours earlier than our first visit, and it turned out that morning light wasn’t the best for Tangerine Falls.

That’s because I pretty much had to look against the sun to look at the main drop of the falls.

Given these observations, I’d say late morning through to mid-afternoon would be the best times to visit the falls seeing how the sun would be behind me instead of in front of me.

The second spot we stopped at was further up the “trail” as it deviated and followed a precarious ledge right at the bottom of the main waterfall.

Tangerine_Falls_17_060_04022017 - Looking up at the main drop of Tangerine Falls from the 'second lookout spot' perched precariously on a narrow ledge
Looking up at the main drop of Tangerine Falls from the ‘second lookout spot’ perched precariously on a narrow ledge

At first, we actually weren’t aware of this other spot until we saw a group of locals continue climbing further up the steep trail.

So by the time we made it to the trail’s end, it got pretty crowded at the narrow ledge fronting the main waterfall (as there was very limited space here).

On the second visit here, I was alone at this spot, but I was also pretty much looking right against the morning sun.

Nonetheless, from this vantage point, we could see the falls’ profile from very close up while also getting a commanding ocean view looking downstream.

Tangerine_Falls_17_075_04022017 - On the very steep descent from Tangerine Falls after having my fill of the waterfall
On the very steep descent from Tangerine Falls after having my fill of the waterfall

I’d have to say this was one of the more memorable hikes that Julie and I have done together, and it was probably because of this view along with the waterfall itself as well as the difficult scrambling towards the end.

Apparently, we weren’t alone in our thinking because when we returned to the trailhead, we must’ve counted at least a half-dozen hiking groups headed the other way.

So I have to believe Tangerine Falls is a pretty popular spot despite how rough the trail can get.

The same observation could be said of my second visit to the falls when I must have passed by at least a dozen more hiking parties going towards the falls as I was leaving.

Authorities

Tangerine Falls resides in the Los Padres National Forest near Montecito in Santa Barbara County, California. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: los padres national forest, santa barbara, southern california, california, waterfall, west fork cold springs, cold springs, locals, hike



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About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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